Frequently Asked Questions About Our Online Second Opinion Program
Our Dana-Farber medical oncologists are experts in the field of cancer care. They oversee chemotherapy, targeted therapies, and other medical treatments. Our medical oncologists collaborate with surgical oncologists and radiation oncologists, but do not directly oversee radiation treatment or surgery for patients.
You can start a second opinion online at any time. Please note, completion of second opinion requests is subject to Dana-Farber physician availability. To begin, please create an account. Dana-Farber has contracted with AccessHope to facilitate the process of collecting materials such as medical records and imaging from U.S. based medical facilities, obtaining required authorizations, and delivering your second opinion.
If you have questions about getting started, please call AccessHope weekdays between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. EST at 800-818-4145 or email DanaFarberExpertSecondOpinion@myaccesshope.org.
Once you create an account, the AccessHope team will guide you through the process of collecting your materials from your treating physician, matching your case with the most appropriate Dana-Farber medical oncologist, delivering your written Dana-Farber online second opinion to you, and handling any questions you may have. No visit – either in person or virtual – is required. Your case will be reviewed by a Dana-Farber medical oncologist who specializes in chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and other systemic therapy treatment options for your diagnosis. At this time, surgical and radiation oncologists are not available to review cases through this program. If you have questions related to surgery and radiation treatment options, you can request an in-person multi-disciplinary appointment by filling out this online form or by calling 877-442-3324.
Please be aware that if you received your cancer diagnosis or treatment outside of the U.S., you will be responsible for obtaining your medical records and imaging from those medical facilities. Additionally, you will need to have your materials professionally translated into English.
The cost for an online second opinion is $3,000. This fee includes materials collection, a written second opinion from a Dana-Farber medical oncologist, and guidance throughout the process.
Currently, most health plans do not cover online second opinions or consultations, so patients are usually responsible for the cost of the online second opinion. Dana-Farber cannot file a claim with your insurance carrier, nor can we provide a procedure (CPT) code for this service.
Our goal is to deliver your written second opinion as quickly as possible. However, the timeline can vary based on the amount of time it takes to obtain your materials (such as images and medical records) and the availability of the specialist best suited to review your case. After you submit your case through the online portal, it can take AccessHope up to 14 days to collect all necessary medical records and images. The timeline for collection of materials from non-U.S. facilities will depend on your ability to collect needed medical records and samples. Once materials collection is complete, it typically takes 7 to 14 business days to receive your written online second opinion. Second opinion requests are subject to Dana-Farber physician availability and, in rare cases, may not be possible to complete.
While we strive to provide your written second opinion within 5 to 7 business days after receiving your materials, completion is subject to Dana-Farber physician availability. In rare cases, due to high demand and physician bandwidth, there may be delays or cancellations to second opinion requests. If we are unable to complete your case, you will be notified promptly, and any fees paid will be fully refunded. We appreciate your understanding and patience as we work to deliver the highest quality care.
If you received your cancer diagnosis or treatment outside of the United States, you will need to send your medical records.
If all of your care has taken place within the United States, you only need to provide the names and locations of your physicians, and AccessHope will collect your records. However, if you reside in the United States and already have your records, you can send them directly to AccessHope to expedite the process.
Unfortunately, we are unable to process requests that are not in English. Please have your records translated by a professional medical translation agency before submitting them for review.
AccessHope will carefully review your second opinion request and match you with a Dana-Farber medical oncologist who is best suited to handle your case.
You can request an in-person appointment by filling out this online form or calling 877-442-3324.
For the most part, yes. However, we cannot offer online second opinions to a small number of patients living in certain excluded states (MA, RI, AK) and countries, due to regulatory constraints. If you live in one of these areas, you can still request an in-person second opinion by filling out this online form or calling 877-442-3324.
Please note:
- All patients must have an existing diagnosis before requesting an online second opinion. An existing treatment plan is not required.
- Online second opinions are not available to patients who are hospitalized or receiving treatment at a hospice or palliative care facility.
Dana-Farber is strongly committed to protecting the privacy and security of all our patients. The AccessHope online portal meets all federal requirements for protecting personal health information under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). Additionally, AccessHope does not store any credit card information in its system. All financial transactions are securely processed by AccessHope's subcontractor using industry-standard payment processing tools.
In most cases, yes. If you are interested in scheduling an in-person appointment at Dana-Farber, please email AccessHope at DanaFarberExpertSecondOpinion@myaccesshope.org after you receive the second opinion. We also encourage you to discuss your completed written second opinion with your local provider.
Please note: The cost of your online second opinion cannot be applied to the bill for other services, such as appointments or pathology review. Other services may be covered by your insurance, or you may be financially responsible. It may be possible to schedule an appointment with the specialist who provided your online second opinion, and you may require additional appointments with other Dana-Farber specialty providers or other services, such as pathology, labs, and imaging.
Yes, but additional materials, including pathology slides, medical records, and imaging, may need to be collected. The scheduling staff will discuss this process with you, and you may need to help collect these materials.
Dana-Farber has contracted with AccessHope to facilitate the process of collecting materials (medical records and imaging) from U.S. based medical facilities, obtaining required authorizations, and delivering your second opinion. A Dana-Farber medical oncologist whose expertise aligns with the needs of your specific case will review your medical records, images, and history, and provide a written second opinion.
Your case cannot be reviewed by an expert until we have received all the required materials. All relevant medical records and imaging must be available at the time you submit the case. Once the clinical review is underway, additional materials cannot be added to the case for physician review, unless requested by AccessHope during the submission process. If new information does become available while the clinical review is underway, you are welcome to open and pay for a new case, and we can request the same expert who reviewed your first case. Please be aware that we cannot guarantee that the same expert will be available to review your second case.
Patients may ask a maximum of three questions to ensure that the expert has sufficient time to devote to each one. All questions must be finalized before we reach out to the expert to review your case, and additional questions cannot be added once your case is underway.
Please note that there is no direct conversation with the expert, so it is important that you submit all your questions at the start of your case.
You will receive a secure email when your second opinion has been completed and is ready for your review. The second opinion will be in written form delivered to you and your local provider, if one is identified.
If you have clarifying questions regarding the Dana-Farber expert's written second opinion, we encourage you to discuss it with your local provider. AccessHope can also help you arrange a visit with a Dana-Farber expert if desired.
Online Second Opinions